Device for retaining shirt-waists and dresses in relative positions.



No. 674,I95. Patented May I4, I901.

M. H." CARTER & T. W. 6. 000K.

DEVICE FOR RETAINING SHIRT WAISTS AND DRESSES IN RELATIVE POSITIONS.

(Applicntion flled- June 30, 1900.) (No Model.)

awuevwom m: Nonms PETERS c0, wow-urns WASHINGTON, u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARGUERITE HELENE CARTER AND THOMAS W. G. COOK, NEW YORK, I N. Y.; SAID COOK ASSIGNOR TO SAID CARTER.

DEVICE FOR RETAININGSHIRT-WAISTS AND DRESSES IN RELATIVE POSITIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,195, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed June 30,1900.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, MARGUERITE HELENE CARTER, a citizen of the Republic of France, and THOMAS W. G. COOK, a citizen of the United States, both residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Retaining Shirt-Waists and Dresses in Relative Position, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices which embody a plate having projecting spurs or points and which are adapted for use for the purpose of conjointly holding or retaining a shirt-waist or similar article of womens apparel in position with relation to the waistband. of a dress.

The object of our invention is to provide an improved device of this character which will be exceedingly simple and inexpensive in its construction and which will possess advantages in point of convenience, efiective operation, ease of application, and general efficiency. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the securing device embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is ardetail edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section taken through the plate and showing the device in operative position. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the spurs or points. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the end of the plate.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same numerals of reference.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a plate which is curved or bowed in contour, whereby it will perfectly fit the curved lines of the waist. The plate 1 has a series of spurs or points 2 projecting from its opposite faces, as shown. In the arrangement of the spurs or points according to our invention and ,improvements we provide at a central point with respect to the plate a series of inwardly and downwardly projecting spurs or points, as at 3, which are adapted to engage the fabric of the shirt-waist, and at opposite sides of said central set or series of spurs or points 3 we provide a series of upwardly and outwardly 5o projecting spurs or points, as at 4 4., which are adapted to engage the fabric of the waistband of the dress, and at the respective end portions of the plate 1, outside the sets or series of points or spurs 4, we provide a series of inwardly and downwardly projecting points or spurs, as at 5, which are adapted to engage the fabric of the shirt-waist.

The improved relative arrangement of the points or spurs just above described provides for engagement of both the shirt-waist and the waistbandof the dress at two distinct points and at the same time limits the extent of the engagement, so that only a small portion of the fabrics is penetrated by the points or spurs, and, furthermore, by reason of the relative arrangement of the central inwardly and downwardly projecting series a and the. inwardlyand downwardly projecting end series 5 any pivotal movement or swing of the device in its engagement with the fabrics is prevented, and consequent damage to the fabrics is obviated.v

In the practical construction of the device the points or spurs 2 are preferably struck up from the body-plate 1 in the shape of narrow approximately V-shaped spurs, and said points or spurs projecting from the body portion of the plate are preferably arranged in position in a double parallel row extending longitudinally, as at 6.

The spurs or points are preferably concaved or hollowed at their inner faces, as shown at 7, so that they have approximately the shape or form of a claw,'which facilitates their engagement with the fabric and more eifectually precludes liability of damage to the fabric.

At each end of the body-plate is provided a slit or slot, as at 8, preferably punched or struck out and extending transversely 0 with relation to the width of the plate. In these slits are engaged flexible tapes or ribbons, which are adapted to extend around the waist of the user for the purpose of maintaining the plate 1 in operative position.

The end slits or slots are preferably arranged in pairs at each end, as represented at 9, and the two slots 8 of each pair 9 have their respective inner edges serrated,as at 10, while the respective outer edges of said slots too are curved segmentally, as at 11. The flexible tapes or ribbons 12 may be engaged with the plate by passing their ends first through the innermost slot 8 of the end pair 9 and then in an opposite direction through the outermost slot, whereby the tapes or ribbons 12 will be engaged by the serrated edges 10, and thus maintained in position without sewing. The curved or segmental edges 11 of the slots 8 operate to broaden or widen the slots with respect to their serrated inner edges, whereby the threading or passage of the tapes or ribbons through the slots is facilitated.

If desired, the tapes or ribbons may be sewed or secured in any other suitable or adapted manner in connection with the plate.

Preferably the middle series 3 of projecting spurs or points is divided by an imperforate or smooth or clear space, as represented at 13, forming a field without spurs or points and at the central portion of the plate, which is the part which operatively rests at the portion of the waistband of the dress at which the ordinary placket hooks and eyes or other fastening means are, whereby any inconvenient engagement or interference between the spurs and said fastening means at this point is entirely obviated.

The plate 1 is designed to permanently maintain its curved or bowed contour, and it is rigid in contradistinction to being flexible or of spring quality. This rigid curvature of the plate,in connection with the other features of relative construction and arrangement, is an important subject-matter of our present invention and improvements. When plates of this character provided with projecting points or spurs are flexible or have a spring action, they have a free swing and flexible movement while in operation, and the security of their engagement with the fabric is thus reduced or limited, and they frequently work loose. In our invention the rigid curved or bowed plate is adapted to maintain a fixed position with relation to the engagement of its spurs or points with the fabric, and at the same time it perfectly fits the curve lines of the waist, whereby the engagement of the device with the fabric is effectually maintained at all times and under all conditions of use.

In carrying out the rigid quality of the curved or bowed plate 1 We preferably provide indentations forming ribs, as at 14, eX- tending longitudinally with respect to the plate. The said ribs or ridges may be simply stamped or struck up from the body of the plate, as herein shown, and they are preferably provided in a parallel pair and arranged one adjacent to each outer edge of the plate and between the spurs or points and said edge. If desired, one of the stiffening ribs or ridges 14 may be provided centrally with respect to the plate, between the respective spurs or points, in lieu of the ridges adjacent to the outer edges, or said central rib may be employed in connection with ribs adjacent to the outer edges, or the rigid position of the curved or bowed plate may be insured in any other suitable or adapted manner.

The operation and advantages of our invention will be readily understood.

The plate is simply mounted in position at the back of the waist, with the inwardly and downwardly projecting spurs or points at the inside, so that the latter engage the shirtwaist, as at 15, while the outwardly and upwardly projecting points or spurs at the outer face of the plate engage the inner face of the waistband of the dress, as at 16. (See Fig. 5.) The simple device constituting our invention thus operates to effectively retain the shirtwaist down and the dress up in relative operative position, and it will be noted that the device is entirely concealed from view in its operative relationship with the shirt-waist 1 and dress by the waistband of the latter.

In the practical construction of the device, as herein illustrated, it will be noted that the inwardly and downwardly projecting spurs are at the inner or concave face of the bowed plate, while the outwardly and upwardly projecting spurs are at the outer or convex face of the plate.

Manifest variation and modification may be made in the details of structure and arrangement as comprised in our invention. For instance, the device constituting our invention and improvements is also adapted to be effectively used in connection with mens apparel at the sides of the waist, between the waistband of drawers and the waistband of trousers, for the purpose of retaining said apparel members in proper relative position in lieu of suspenders. We therefore reserve the right to all such variation and modification as properly comes within the spirit and scope of our invention and improvements and the terms of the following claim.

Under some circumstances, in connection with womens apparel, the waistband of a shirt-waist is finished and is worn outside of the waistband of the dress. In the application of our invention to these conditions of use the relative arrangement of the inwardly and outwardly projecting spurs at the opposite faces of the body-plate is simply reversed with respect to the construction or arrangement hereinabove described and illustrated that is to say, the central series 3 and the end series 5 of the points or spurs are arranged to project outwardly and downwardly at the outer or convex side or face of the plate, so that they will engage the shirt-Waist fabric, while the intermediate series t of the points or spurs are arranged to project inwardly and upwardly at the inner or concave side or face of the plate, so that they will engage the fabric of the waistband of the dress, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described device, comprising an integral curved or bowed body-plate which is structurally provided with means for maintaining a rigid curvature and having struckup spurs or points which are relatively bent upwardly and downwardly, said upwardlyprojecting spurs and said downwardly-pic jecting spurs being relativelyarranged in alternation and the respective series of spurs or points being arranged to project at opposite sides or faces of the body-plate, said body-plate being provided at its ends with slits 0r slots adapted to receive tapes or rib- 

